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Macular functional changes in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration receiving ranibizumab therapy (lucentis)
BMC Geriatrics volume 10, Article number: A77 (2010)
Background
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is considered to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration due to its vascular permeability-inducing and angiogenic properties. Ranibizumab, a small antibody fragment designed to competitively bind all VEGF isoforms, passes after intravitreal injection into all retinal layers reaching the retinal pigment epithelium-choroid complex. The actions of ranibizumab result in reduced cell proliferation, reduced formation of new blood vessels, and minimization of vascular leakage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prospectively macular function in in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients undergoing repeated intravitreal injections of Ranibizumab therapy (Lucentis).
Materials and methods
Twenty patients affected by AMD (age range 60-72 years) were enrolled in the study. Inclusion criteria for this study were: evidence of age-related macular degeneration, angiographic evidence of predominantly classic and occult CNV extending under the center of the foveal avascular zone, absence of coexisting ocular disease. Patients enrolled showed baseline visual acuity ranged 1-0.84 logMAR, central microperimetric (Nikon MP-1) sensitivity 2 to 10 dB. Each patient underwent weekly assessments, for three months, of visual acuity, microperimetry and focal electroretinogram (FERG), performed according to a published technique.
Results
Following the first intravitreal injection, mean visual acuity (Figure 1), microperimetric sensitivity (Figure 2) and FERG amplitude (Figure 3) increased steadily from baseline values over the treatment period, with further improvements following each intravitreal injection (P<0.001).
Visual acuity (ETDRS)
Central Microperimetric
FERG amplitude
Conclusions
Ranibizumab therapy can improve central macular function in patients with predominantly classic and occult CNV.
References
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Kourlas H, Abrams P: Ranibizumab for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: a review. Clin Ther. 2007, 29 (9): 1850-61. 10.1016/j.clinthera.2007.09.008.
McKibbin M, Papastefanou V, Matthews B, Cook H, Downey L: Ranibizumab monotherapy for sub-foveal haemorrhage secondary to choroidal neovascularisation in age-related macular degeneration. Eye. 2009
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Scalzo, G.C., Campagna, F., Randazzo, G. et al. Macular functional changes in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration receiving ranibizumab therapy (lucentis). BMC Geriatr 10 (Suppl 1), A77 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2318-10-S1-A77
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2318-10-S1-A77